Who owns Africa’s stolen Treasures? Manhyia Palace book review reopens debate over Britain’s plunder of Asante gold
A book review of The African Kingdom of Gold – British and the Asante Treasure by award-winning journalist and author Barnaby Phillips has brought renewed attention to the historical plunder of Asante gold regalia by British colonial forces and the continuing debate over the restitution of cultural artefacts.
The event, held at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi on Monday, November 9, 2026, examined the circumstances surrounding the looting of valuable Asante treasures during British military expeditions in the 19th century and the question of whether the objects should be permanently returned to their rightful owners.
The book provides a detailed account of how British forces invaded Kumasi in 1874 and 1896, ransacked the Asante Palace and seized priceless gold regalia and other cultural treasures, which were subsequently transported to Britain.
Through extensive archival research, interviews in Ghana, Britain and other countries, and historical accounts, Phillips reconstructs how the stolen treasures were distributed among prominent British institutions and private collectors.
The question of restitution
The book identifies the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), and the Wallace Collection among the institutions that continue to hold significant portions of the looted Asante regalia.
It also examines the historic decision in 2024 by the British Museum and the V&A to return some of the objects to Asante, although the arrangement was made on loan rather than through permanent restitution.
Barnaby Phillips critically explores the implications of restitution for both former colonial powers and previously colonised societies, raising important questions about ownership, cultural identity, historical justice and the responsibility of museums to acknowledge the origins of their collections.
The review provided an opportunity to reflect on the historical significance of the Asante treasures and the importance of preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage for future generations.
About the author
Barnaby Phillips is an award-winning journalist and author who spent several years working as a BBC correspondent in Africa.
His previous publication, Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes, released in 2021, examines another major case of cultural artefacts taken from Africa during European colonial expansion.
Based in London, Barnaby Phillips also works with an elephant conservation organisation and teaches and lectures on colonial history, museums and the provenance of cultural objects.
The Manhyia Palace Museum, as a custodian of significant Asante historical artefacts, provided an important setting for the discussion, particularly as questions surrounding the ownership, return and preservation of African cultural treasures continue to attract international attention.
The book ultimately challenges readers to look beyond the historical circumstances of colonial plunder and confront a fundamental question: who should have the right to preserve, display and tell the stories of Africa’s stolen cultural heritage?
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
